Send keys at the same time?

[Lemures]

How can I emulate pressing two keys simultaneously? I am developing a music playing "bot" for LOTRO (see here for more information: http://lotro.glenneroo.org/music.html ). In order to play certain chords, I have to "press" multiple keys at the same time. Is there any way to do this? Setting the send key delay to 0 and using Send("12") does NOT press them at the same time. Any ideas?

[Zedna]

Maybe:

Send("{1 DOWN}")
Send("{2 DOWN}")
Sleep(3000)
Send("{1 UP}")
Send("{2 UP}")

[Lemures]

  Zedna said:

Maybe:

Send("{1 DOWN}")
Send("{2 DOWN}")
Sleep(3000)
Send("{1 UP}")
Send("{2 UP}")

That won't work because I need them pressed at the exact same time, and quickly, so i can move on to the next chord.

[Zedna]

  Lemures said:

That won't work because I need them pressed at the exact same time, and quickly, so i can move on to the next chord.

So

Send("{1 DOWN}")
Send("{2 DOWN}")
Send("{2 UP}")
Send("{1 UP}")

[Lemures]

  Zedna said:

So

Send("{1 DOWN}")
Send("{2 DOWN}")
Send("{2 UP}")
Send("{1 UP}")

They need to be pressed and released at the exact same time. I see what you are doing, but, that pushes 1, then 2, then releases 2, then releases 1. there are still those two times where only 1 key is pressed, and thats what I need to avoid.

[PsaltyDS]

  Lemures said:

They need to be pressed and released at the exact same time. I see what you are doing, but, that pushes 1, then 2, then releases 2, then releases 1. there are still those two times where only 1 key is pressed, and thats what I need to avoid.

I think you misunderstand what it means on a keyboard for the human hand to press two keys "at the exact same time." AutoIt functions complete in microseconds, and the hand can only get "at the exact same time" to within a few milliseconds, at best. I think Zedna's first answer was the best, though the delay was too long at 3 full seconds. For musical purposes, you are going to want some math in the function to hold down the chord for an amount of time specific to the time/meter/beat of the music. The amount of time between the two "downs" or "up" is in microseconds and irrelevant.

$BeatsPerMin = 100
$NoteLen = 0.25 ; quarter note

$NoteTime = ($BeatsPerMin / 60) * 1000 ; miliseconds per beat
$NoteTime = $NoteTime * $NoteLen

Send("{1 DOWN}")
Send("{2 DOWN}")
Sleep($NoteLen)
Send("{1 UP}")
Send("{2 UP}")

Edited May 28, 2007 by PsaltyDS

[Lemures]

  PsaltyDS said:

I think you misunderstand what it means on a keyboard for the human hand to press two keys "at the exact same time." AutoIt functions complete in microseconds, and the hand can only get "at the exact same time" to within a few milliseconds, at best. I think Zedna's first answer was the best, though the delay was too long at 3 full seconds. For musical purposes, you are going to want some math in the function to hold down the chord for an amount of time specific to the time/meter/beat of the music. The amount of time between the two "downs" or "up" is in microseconds and irrelevant.

$BeatsPerMin = 100
$NoteLen = 0.25 ; quarter note

$NoteTime = ($BeatsPerMin / 60) * 1000 ; miliseconds per beat
$NoteTime = $NoteTime * $NoteLen

Send("{1 DOWN}")
Send("{2 DOWN}")
Sleep($NoteLen)
Send("{1 UP}")
Send("{2 UP}")

I realize I was mistaken, I am sorry. However, after testing that method, it still does not work. The program does not receive the keys at "the same time" (in quotes because, as you said, its not at EXACTLY the same time) and thus the notes are not played concurrently. Sometimes I will hear the other note just before the other, and sometimes the note is played CLEARLY after the other. Are there any methods of sending keystrokes concurrently?

[Zedna]

Send("{1 DOWN}")
Send("2")
Send("{1 UP}")
;Sleep(some time)

[Lemures]

  Zedna said:

Send("{1 DOWN}")
Send("2")
Send("{1 UP}")
;Sleep(some time)

This still 'presses' 1 then 2, then releases one. yes, they are depressed concurrently, but not 'pressed' concurrently. the program still plays note 1, then note 2.

[Achilles]

  Lemures said:

This still 'presses' 1 then 2, then releases one. yes, they are depressed concurrently, but not 'pressed' concurrently. the program still plays note 1, then note 2.

I don't think it is possible to press two buttons at exactly the same time, the microsecond or two between each key being pressed is most likely unavoidable. Even when you try pushing two keys on a keyboard there is probably a slight difference between when the keyboard receives them as being pushed.

Correct me if I'm wrong anybody, I'm just guessing based off what I know about programming...

[Lemures]

Ya, but for some reason, when I press two keys at the same time with my keyboard, it plays both at the same time. But if I send two keys with a microsecond delay with a Send() command, the program thinks there is a pause between them and plays them seperately. I cannot figure this out. Any ideas?

[SmOke_N]

This is the most rediculous request I've ever seen.

AutoIt isn't multi-threading, and even if it were, explain to me how something could be done at the same "exact" time... Never mind you can't... so quit bitching with suggestions (considering all you've done is shot down every attempt made) come up with some ideas of your own, switch languages, or learn how to use /AutoIt3ExecuteLine/Script.

Edit:

I should add:

Everything is registered one thing at a time... speed may make it seem like it was done simultaneously, but logic tells us something different.

Having said that, you may want to look at your send key delays.

Edited May 29, 2007 by SmOke_N

[Lemures]

  SmOke_N said:

This is the most rediculous request I've ever seen.

AutoIt isn't multi-threading, and even if it were, explain to me how something could be done at the same "exact" time... Never mind you can't... so quit bitching with suggestions (considering all you've done is shot down every attempt made) come up with some ideas of your own, switch languages, or learn how to use /AutoIt3ExecuteLine/Script.

Edit:

I should add:

Everything is registered one thing at a time... speed may make it seem like it was done simultaneously, but logic tells us something different.

Having said that, you may want to look at your send key delays.

Ignoring the urge to flame back, I have already looked at send key delays. I've tried it all, it does not work. I've "shot down" every attempt made because they HAVE NOT WORKED. I have then replied with WHY it does not seem to work, in an attempt to work the way towards something that DOES work.

Regarding your "most ridiculous request seen" comment, leading into how something can be done "at the same exact time". I dont know, how about Send("+1"), which sends a shift-1 command. Or does this, behind the scenes, send, essentially, shiftdown, 1, shiftup. I do not know, so I'm not going to throw this back at you.

Instead of being rude, you could actually help. But you did try and help, or so it seems, in the latter part of your reply. So in the end... I dont know.

Ultimately, this is a confusing problem, because of the following: If I manually press the keys "1" and "2" (just examples) at the 'same' time with my fingers (which we all know is not at the EXACT same time, and is indeed seperated by some time delay), the receiving program recognizes the notes as being played at the same time. However, if I use Send("12") or any of the above mentioned methods, including messing with the SendKeyDelay, the program still plays note 1, then note 2, and does not play them concurrently.

[SmOke_N]

  Lemures said:

Ignoring the urge to flame back, I have already looked at send key delays. I've tried it all, it does not work. I've "shot down" every attempt made because they HAVE NOT WORKED. I have then replied with WHY it does not seem to work, in an attempt to work the way towards something that DOES work.

Regarding your "most ridiculous request seen" comment, leading into how something can be done "at the same exact time". I dont know, how about Send("+1"), which sends a shift-1 command. Or does this, behind the scenes, send, essentially, shiftdown, 1, shiftup. I do not know, so I'm not going to throw this back at you.

Instead of being rude, you could actually help. But you did try and help, or so it seems, in the latter part of your reply. So in the end... I dont know.

Ultimately, this is a confusing problem, because of the following: If I manually press the keys "1" and "2" (just examples) at the 'same' time with my fingers (which we all know is not at the EXACT same time, and is indeed seperated by some time delay), the receiving program recognizes the notes as being played at the same time. However, if I use Send("12") or any of the above mentioned methods, including messing with the SendKeyDelay, the program still plays note 1, then note 2, and does not play them concurrently.

Well, for what the flame was worth, I gave you the only answer to your problem that I can possibly see working....

AutoIt3ExecuteLine/Script.

[Siao]

  Lemures said:

Ultimately, this is a confusing problem, because of the following: If I manually press the keys "1" and "2" (just examples) at the 'same' time with my fingers (which we all know is not at the EXACT same time, and is indeed seperated by some time delay), the receiving program recognizes the notes as being played at the same time. However, if I use Send("12") or any of the above mentioned methods, including messing with the SendKeyDelay, the program still plays note 1, then note 2, and does not play them concurrently.

Have you tried increasing SendKeyDownDelay?

Edited May 29, 2007 by Siao

[Toady]

Maybe the program you are sending these key presses to is programmed to work naturally (human like) not the way you want it to. A more natural way of doing this is something like this. Give it a try.

This is actually what happens when you manually press the two keys down.

Opt("SendKeyDelay",0)
Opt("SendKeyDownDelay",0)

Send("{1 down}")
Sleep(20) ; normal delay for human like press, this delay is normally around (10 ~ 50) milliseconds, not 0...
Send("{2 down}")
Sleep(1000) Delay ;play both at same time for 1 second.
Send("{1 up}")
Sleep(20)
Send("{2 up}")

[1905russell]

I downloaded the trial music keyboard from www.kbdmusic.com

I can play a beautiful three note cord G J L with three fingers.

I have tried all the above suggestions (and a few of my own) but I can't replicate the cord.

I'm sure there must be a solution?

Edit - Warning - either kbdmusic.com software or one of my neverending loops but when both are running parts of my keyboard become dysfunctional, sometimes. Rebooting fixes my problem. Maybe the trial version wants to make sure you wont buy it?

If all the sounds of all the key combinations where say in a WAV/MP3 file then we could use Soundplay("GJL.wav") but that would be too easy.

Edited May 30, 2007 by 1905russell

[Sokko]

Modern 3D-accelerated video games can be somewhat resistant to automation. Either as a side-effect of the way they are programmed, or intentionally because the developers don't want you doing it. If your code works outside the game (e.g. in Notepad) but not inside, there's a good chance you've run into a brick wall.

On a different tack, the help file notes that using a value of 0 for SendKeyDelay sometimes doesn't work properly. Have you tried setting it to 1? Also try sending the two keys in one command, like "{1 DOWN}{2 DOWN}".

[Siao]

  1905russell said:

I downloaded the trial music keyboard from www.kbdmusic.com

I can play a beautiful three note cord G J L with three fingers.

I have tried all the above suggestions (and a few of my own) but I can't replicate the cord.

I'm sure there must be a solution?

Works just fine:

Opt("SendKeyDelay", 0) 
Opt("SendKeyDownDelay", 0) 
HotKeySet("{PAUSE}", "GJL")
While 1
    sleep(100)
WEnd
Func GJL ()
    If WinActive("Keyboard Music") Then
        Send("{g DOWN}")
        Send("{j DOWN}")
        Send("{l DOWN}")
        Sleep(1000)
        Send("{l UP}")
        Send("{j UP}")
        Send("{g UP}")      
    EndIf
EndFunc

Edited May 30, 2007 by Siao

[1905russell]

  Siao said:

Works just fine:

Brilliant

So substitute with 1 and 2 and that should be it

Edited May 30, 2007 by 1905russell